The Flyers had more of them then most people anticipated in the first half of the season and a lot fewer than fans would’ve liked to see in the latter half. Despite losing badly down the stretch to some of the worst teams in the league, the Flyers had more games than expected where they didn’t just compete with the elites but beat them (including both Cup finalists). Here are five of the more memorable wins that put a smile on many Flyers fans’ faces during the 2023-24 season.

Philadelphia, PA

5. Flyers 4, Rangers 1 (April 11, 2024)

After being trounced in all kinds of ways by Montreal 9-3 and winless in eight, many expected the Flyers would continue their malaise and extinguish any faint hopes of a wildcard spot and a miniscule tragic number. A game in New York against the Rangers (who they hadn’t beat all season) should have been the final nail in their coffin. But the team, with its back against the wall, managed to give themselves at least another game of meaningful hockey.

The Flyers looked far better than they did at any time in the previous week to 10 days by opening the scoring thanks to Cam York. But Philadelphia got into penalty trouble, first on a too many men bench minor. Just under a minute later Erik Johnson took a charging penalty. The two-man advantage was too long and too much to handle as Artemi Panarin scored to tie it.

In the second the Flyers went ahead thanks to Bobby Brink and added a late insurance goal in the second courtesy of Travis Konecny to put Philadelphia up 3-1 with 20 to play.

The third saw the Flyers keep the foot on the gas and never relented, ending up with a much-needed 4-1 win over the Rempe-riddled Rangers. It didn’t mean a lot in hindsight but it was nice to see a team that looked so lost and hopeless days before leave Madison Square Garden with a very quality W. “This was definitely huge, coming off a performance like last game,” Ersson said after the contest. ”We put everything into it. This was a very good game for us, building some momentum for the last couple of games.”

4. Flyers 2, Jets 0 (January 13, 2024)

The Winnipeg Jets came into this one having a nearly unblemished record against the Eastern Conference teams, going 11-0-3 before facing Philadelphia. Winnipeg was also on an eight-game winning streak that was a franchise record. Oh and at the time they were leading the league in points. So the Flyers, despite playing well and surprising many with their start to the season, had their hands full with Connor Hellebuyck and company.

The Flyers, fresh off a win in Minnesota the night before, got things rolling with five minutes left in the first. Cam Atkinson had a chance to put the Flyers up and capitalized seconds later on a deflection beating Hellebuyck and snapping a 26-game goalless drought. Early in the second the Flyers pounced again, this time on the power play. Morgan Frost’s shot from the blueline was redirected, leaving Atkinson to grab the garbage goal and put the Flyers up by two.

The Flyers didn’t break the three-goal mark, something Winnipeg held most opponents under for most of the season’s first half. But they didn’t need to as Sam Ersson was solid the entire night, stopping quality chances early in the game and late with the Jets on the power play and their goalie pulled. The Jets were shutout for just the second time all season while the Flyers looked very impressive on the back end against a team that, at the time, was thought to be a Cup contender. “Obviously, we knew they were hot coming in and they had not let in a lot of goals this season so we knew we had to play a good road game and maybe not give up so much,” Ersson said. “Great game for the guys and a huge two points for us.”

3. Flyers 4, Golden Knights 3 (OT) (November 18, 2023)

The Flyers were part of the genius public relations move the NHL had in late October which saw start times staggered around the league. The result was the late game between Philadelphia and Vegas started well after 11 p.m. Eastern (or the next day Atlantic time), a game they lost 3-2 late in regulation. The second match between the two (and at a decenet start time) saw the Golden Knights still steeped with talent throughout their lineup while the plucky Flyers were putting up a good fight in almost every game. This game at Wells Fargo Center was a perfect example of the Flyers figuratively punching above their weight.

Owen Tippett scored in the first and then the Flyers scored on the power play. There’s evidence of a power play goal below.

Tyson Foerster snapped a 15-game goal scarcity and the Flyers had a 2-0 lead early in the second. The Golden Knights tied things up after Jonathan Marchessault’s goal with five minutes remaining in the second. But rather than cave as had been the case previous seasons with the Flyers, they seized momentum 25 seconds later when Sean Walker put the Orange and Black back on top. Marchessault’s second of the night tied it up at three.

In overtime, the Flyers caught a break when Couturier’s shot that looked like it was intended for Konecny to deflect went off Jack Eichel and in. The Flyers had won their fourth in a row, outshooting Vegas 38-31 and giving themselves a win over the defending Stanley Cup champions.

2. Flyers 2, Panthers 1 (March 7, 2024)

Although there were one or two more dominant efforts, probably the grittiest effort by far all season was this matchup against the future Stanley Cup champions. A day prior defenseman the Flyers traded Sean Walker to Colorado, a expected move but it caused a lot less depth on the blueline. Also injuries to Nick Seeler, Rasmus Ristolainen and Jamie Drysdale left half of their top six out of the picture. The Flyers used Marc Staal, Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning and Ronnie Attard on this night, none of them used sparingly. It would be an uphill battle at best.

Following a scoreless opening period, the Flyers struck quickly in the second. Ryan Poehling put Philadelphia up 1-0 ten seconds. The Panthers would even things up seven minutes later when Gustav Forsling beat Sam Ersson. Marc Staal took a penalty less than a minute afterwards and the Panthers looked to be taking control. However the Flyers killed it off. In the third the teams traded chances and went back and forth. Both Ginning and Attard were standing tall as the depleted defense kept things simple. Ginning however made an impression not just with his teammates but on the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart with five minutes left, nailing him with a hard, heavy but clean hit.

Late in the third, with the score still even at one, the Flyers line of Garnet Hathaway, Poehling and Noah Cates caused one of the more chaotic shifts of the year, leaving a ridiculous amount of sticks in the Panthers’ zone behind Sergei Bobrovsky and confusion all around. Staal’s shot from the point was stopped but Hathaway was there to shovel the rebound over the Panthers’ goalie with just over 20 seconds to play.

The Flyers held on the rest of the way and earned a gutsy regulation win in Florida with the back end a shell of its former self. “I think it just reinforces that belief within the room,” Hathaway said. “Guys playing knowing that we step up and play your best game and the guy next to you plays his best game. We can play anyone every night.”

The win also made many people believe that this would certainly go a long way to Philadelphia getting to game 83. But as we found out there was still a long way to go.

1. Flyers 5, Stars 1 (January 18, 2024)

The Dallas Stars came in to Wells Fargo Centre on this night facing a team that had won four in a row and kept working hard against almost every opponent Given the talent level on Dallas with top-tier forwards, a star defenseman on the back end and a nearly airtight goaltender, the Flyers probably would’ve been doing well to at least get a point out of the game.

The Flyers hit the ice almost skating circles around the Stars. And for the next 60 minutes, they didn’t relent. Sean Walker scored late in the first and Owen Tippett got his first of the night early in the second. After Dallas split the deficit in half thanks to Tyler Seguin, the Stars simply had no answer for the Flyers pressure and forecheck, imposing their will to a level that arguably wasn’t seen over the 82 games in 2023-24 against such a talented opponent.

The third period saw a little bit of everything from Philadelphia. A power play goal by Cam Atkinson and then a penalty shot that was award to Scott Laughton.

Laughton deked out Jake Oettinger but almost deked out himself before scoring. The goal was reviewed as Dallas argued Laughton was going backwards before he put it in. Officials saw it otherwise and it was 4-1 Flyers. Then this happened.

Owen Tippett’s ridiculous spin and backhander was the icing on this impressive cake the Flyers created in this game. Outshooting the Stars 43-15, the win even impressed John Tortorella. “We played a helluva hockey game,” he said, unable to find fault with anything. One of the highlights of a rather entertaining, eventual 2023-24.